Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-14
WASHINGTON BARTLETT.
Long and Honorable Career of Public
Usefulness.
Isan Francisco Alta, september 1sth.l

Usefulness.
ISan Francisco Alta, September 13th.l
Washington Bartlett came of, on his
fathers side, good old Puritan stock, and
the many sterling qualities possessed by
those sturdy pioneers who founded new
nation among the bleak Businesses and the
forests of the New England coast were
strongly developed in him, and were ap-
parent in all his acts, both public and pri-
vate. His intimate frierds recognized and
admired them. His father was native of
New Hampshire, and early in the century
migrated 70 the Southern States. He To-
Gated in Georgia. Although he became a
STAKEHOLDER, the elder Bartlett was never
reconciled to the system of slavery, and was
especially bitter against all who treated
their slaves cruelty.
Washington was the eldest son Of Cosam
Emir and Sarah E. Bartlett He was born
in Savannah, Georgia, on the 29th of Feb
ruary, 1924. His paternal ancestors came
over from England early in the seventeenth
century and settled near the town of New
bury, Massachusetts. Stephen Bartlett,
his great grandfather, was an elder
brother Of Josiah Bartlett, signer of the
Declaration Of independence, member of
the Continental Congress, first Governor
of the State of New Hampshire and United
States Senator. Stephen obtained large
grant Of land in New Hampshire. Cosam
Emir Bartlett, the father of Washington,
was born in the village of Bath, New
Hampshire, studied at Dartmouth College
and obtained license to practice law As
already stated, the elder Bartlett moved to
the Southern States. He married in
Charleston, South Carolina, his wife being
a Jewess. In 1887 Washington's father
removed to Florida and established news
paper at Tallahassee. He was Mayor of
that town, Public Printer, member of the
Territorial Legislature and a member of the
convention which framed the first State
Constitution. He died in 1850.
The boyhood of Washington Bartlett
was passed at home. Although the facil-
tiles at that time were rather limited for
an extensive education, yet Washington
went through a very fair course of study.
AS boy, he was noted for his bright in
tellect and powers of absorbing knowledge
and retaining it. He appeared to have a
bent toward the printing trade and journal
ISM His first venture in this line was at
Tallahassee, Fla, shortly after he was q
y Ceiio VI dS7S- liz udO COluplclS Cllnl OI
type, press and all the material for pub
fishing the paper. Shortly after the close
of the Mexican war the California gold
fever broke out in virulent form all over
the country. Young Bartlett got it badly,
and determined at once to join the ranks
of those early pioneers now streaming by
thousands toward the new Ell Dorado of
the West. Young Bartlett, however, with
that foresight and prudence which showed
so strong in him in after life, did not be-
come unduly excited over the matter He
decided that q newspaper in the new coun-
try would be needed, and, acting upon his
own advice, he shipped his entire outfit to
California. He sailed from Charleston in
January, 1S49, on board the merchantmen
Othello. After long and tempestuous
voyage Of eleven months he arrived in San
Francisco in November, 1S49 The gold
excitement was rampant. Everyone was
heading for the diggings. But young
Bartlett clung to the purpose of starting a
newspaper.
In January of 1850 he started the Jour
nal Of Commerce, daily paper, having as a
partner Johns Robb, he himself being the
editor. From the beginning the editor
earnestly and enegetically furthered the
project Of having California admitted to
the Union as State This object was &C
complished in September of the same |
year. IN the fire of May 1, 1850, Mr.. |
Bartletts Office was destroyed, but the |
press and type were saved. During the |
session of the first Legislature, at San Jose, |
Mr.. Bartlett obtained an interest in the |
public printing, and took portion of his |
ii 70
while had established the Stockton Journal |
When the second fire occurred all the ma
terial in this city was destroyed, and that
which had been in use at San Jose was
called into requisition, and the partnership
relation with Robb was severed. In 1851
Bartlett, in association with Benjamin r. |
Buckalew, issued the Public Balance, a |
daily paper. This copartnership did not |
exist for any very long period. In 1858,
Bartlett and his brothers. Cosam Julian |
Bartlett and Columbus Bartlett, estab-
lished the Daily EUcning Nelrs. This was
discontinued in 1856, when Washington
Bartlett, in partnership with Edward Con-
ner and William II. Rhodes {" Caxton y,
commenced the publication of the True
Californian. The Evcning Ners took part
in the Nothing campaign, and sided
strongly with the Know-Nothing party.
At the election Mr.. Bartlett voted for the
American nominee for Governor, j. Nicely
johnson. AS a journalist he proved him
self to be faithful and untiring supporter
of all that was Just, right and honorable,
and an opponent of corruption in all its
phases.
In 1856 Mr.. Bartlett joined the Vigi-
lance Committee, and was assigned to the
Captaincy of an armed company. 1t was
at this time, too, that he began to take an
active part in local and State politics.
From October, 1857, to October, 1859, he
was deputy under County Clerk William
Duer, being assigned to the Twelfth Dis
trict Court, Edward Norton, Judge. In
1859 he was elected County Clerk by the
Peoples party. In that official capacity he
earned an enviable record, and was re-
elected 70 the office in 1861, and again in
1867. The Democratic party nominated
him for Auditor in 1866, but he was de-
feated at the polls. AS County Clerk he
made the Office pay an income. When his
third term as County Clerk was completed
Mr.. Bartlett was appointed member of
the Board of State Harbor Commissioners
by Governor Haight, to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of James III. Gutter.
There was 4 brief period in which Wash
ington Bartlett practiced law in association
with his brother Columbus. For several
years, dating from 1870, he was Secretary
Of the Chamber Of Commerce of this city.
In 1878 he entered into the real estate
business with Daniel L. Randolph, now
Vice-Consul for Brazil at this port. In 1873
the Peoples Union, an independent party,
nominated Bartlett for the State Senate,
and he was elected Mr. Bartlett's associate
on the ticket, A. S. Hallidie, was defeated.
In this campaign E. w. McKinstry was
elevated to the Supreme Bench. During
the session of the Legislature Mr.. Bartlett
acted with the independents supporting
for United States Senator Governor Booth.
He also voted for John S. Hager for the
unexpired Senatorial term. During the
II.